I keep getting auto reply notices from Newegg that the 1655 is in stock but when I click the link it takes me to Sony burners.

I think it's funny how I posted info about this happening months ago, trying to give people a heads up and I got flamed for it, pretty much being called every name in the book.

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=141211

Ironically enough , Egypt is a 3rd world country , thus Benq 1655 has just appeared in large quantities here and I recommend it to friends .
The strange thing is I don't know from where computer hardware retailers are getting those Benq drives

I would buy them up and resell them. Scarcity will drive the prices up.

Nahh, theres a few more names they coulda called you.

If so many drive are available there how could you buy enough of them to drive the prices up?.

Available there and available here is 2 different things.

I think I might just go to CompUSA and buy a few of the rebadged Norwood 1640s they have on the shelf for 39.99. Just in case mine goes south on me.

Someone mentioned BenQ's having a short lifespan.
Can anyone address that as a real issue?

Thanks

Are they the same as the BenQ 1640?
I think mine took a major dump this evening. Its recognized by the system but cant get it to eject. Forced it open with a paperclip and put a disc in and tried to burn but no joy.

If that were so true why are there so many of us that praise and worship the BENQ 1620, 1640. 1650, & 1655 drives!!!!!
Every dvd manufacturer will have quality control problems. Some drives maybe defective from the get go and others will be fine. If you're really concerned that BENQ's have a short lifespan then buy another brand. For example PLEXTOR had quality control problems from their 716 model and those that came after it. If you want a BENQ 1650/1655 get them while you can from COMPUSA under the brand NORWOOD MICRO $29.99 after instant and mail in rebates.

Not all of the NORWOOD MICRO drives at COMPUSA are 1640s'. You'll have to look on the box. If it says DW1640 then it is a rebadged 1650 but if it says DW1650 then it's a rebadged 1650.

Sorry to hear your 1640 maybe dead.

I bit you this is a wise and advisable choice you never know some days these drives become antique.

" If it says DW1640 then it is a rebadged 1650"

May be you meant if they are DW1640 then it is a repackage of BenQ 1640.

typo on my part!

The Norwood Micro photos on CompUSA's site do not look like BenQ's? I guess you just have to locate a CompUSA and look in person. D'Oh. Wonder if Newegg might pop another DW1650/1655 up? (been looking a couple times day day).

LOL, thought he was trying to play confuse the redneck.

I was just at CompUSA this morning. I got 2 DW1640s, OEM rebadged. They did not have many left but the DW 1650 was plentiful. I really love my DW 1640 BSLB, its by far my favorite drive.

Yup, you're going to have to go down to COMPUSA in person to look at the boxes of NORWOOD MICRO. Highly doubt Newegg will have more of the 1650/1655 drives.

Me too! I like my 1620s just as much.

Damn, and here ( Romania ) everywhere you look you can only see DW1650/1655 and Philips 1660. I'm thinking about exporting a few The funny part is that Phillips is cheaper, around 41$

I want a 1655. I was just making note of somone's post in this thread that they MAY have a short lifespan. Of course there can always be a bad batch. Since this may be the last batch available in the U.S., I'm querying if others' recent experience prooves this is a bad batch.

Has anyone gotten a rebranded 1655 at CUSA?

Thanks

and what's wrong with the 1650 ? If you don't alreay have one get it while you still can - you won't be sorry.

I just picked one up 10 minutes ago. The Norwood's only had 1650s and 1640s. But there were drives branded as "Connect" no indications on the box what was inside so I opened it up. I found 1655s. There are a couple sold by "Connect" some are made by LG I think.

CONNECT COMPUTER w/LIGHTSCRIBE is rebadged BENQ 1655 and the other one is a LG HN10 drive. I posted this awhile back.